Hi guys, I'm writing an article for a waterfowl magazine about first-time crow hunting, and wanted to get your 2 cents.
What are your Top 3 hints helps rules or suggestions for prospective crow hunters? (besides "keep out of my hunting spots" or "don't do it" or other non sequiturs HAHAHAAHAHAH)
Post em here or send em to my email waterfowlermag@gmail.com
I figured, why not poll the best crow hunters? Thanks in advance. Fire away.
The top three things after you have scouted and determined you are in a good area for crow hunting, it would be; attention to wind direction they generally come in or set up into the wind, then blind locoation so that the birds are naturally funneled to you in a low more open spot if there are trees, finally concealment which is full camo clothing combined with a blind matching the natural suuroundings and generally better than anything you would use for waterfowling.
These three things are not enough by themselves but it assumes you have gun, shells, call/caller and decoys at a minimum,
1. Pattern the crows. Find flyways, feeding fields, etc 2. Camo and blinds. Include face, neck, hands, and eyeballs would be handy. Those whites disappearing and reappearing when you blink.....sure tip off to a crow that someone is there !! But not any camo. It has to match the surroundings. Crows see details, forms, shapes, discern color, etc. 3. Wait for them to get close to shoot if you can. They are not as big as they seem when in the sky with no references around them.
Other items include: * IF you MUST get married....marry someone like Sarah Palin (Caribou Barbie) * High grade premium ammo like 3 1/2" 12 gauge or 10 gauge not REQUIRED. Some like it but not required. I believe someone was using an 8 gauge. (We are limited to 10 gauge for waterfowl but no limits for crow) * Don't overhunt a good spot. Crows are intelligent and will remember if brethren have died there recently or if they narrowly missed being killed by gunfire. Let it cool before you come back. I had a good spot ruined by a noobie that shot the same place every weekend. He would not believe that crows were smart and would learn to stay away.......I don't think he has come to believe that crows are smart but that spot is now a dud !
Scout 1: There are only 3 main components to good crow hunting/shooting. Each of these 3 has sub-categories that each shooter must tweak and refine to maximize the main 3 given where and how he hunts. They are: (not in the order importance )
Shooter's camo and proper concealment
Appropriate calling and calling techniques
Effective shooting.
Stuff like hunting where there are crows, proper shot/choke, getting permission..etc..and etc.. all fall under one of more of the above 3. They are what you have to tweak.. learn..adjust..etc. to maximize your efforts. But of the 3, one is more important than the other two.. and the one most probably would not guess: Effective shooting.
One would have to assume any crow hunter would know.. he has got to hide..etc.. and know he has got to be able to call crows. If you cannot hide..and cannot call.. you get NO crows. But lets stipulate that most will make efforts to do proper hiding and calling and have birds coming in. Regardless of how well you hide.. or how well you call.. IF you cannot kill a majority of the birds you shoot at... meaning probably 70% at least, you will never kill many birds. IF you shoot lots.. and miss lots...those misses SEE you regardless of how well you are hidden...and instantly become educated and spread the alarm. Game mostly over.
Of the 3 I mentioned, the least important is calling. Virgin birds will respond to two sticks being rubbed together! That is an exaggeration of course, but basic calling will bring virgin or green birds well into range...if they do not see you. Then kill them all... reload.. repeat. Dead crows tell no tales.
.. IF you cannot kill a majority of the birds you shoot at... meaning probably 70% at least, you will never kill many birds. IF you shoot lots.. and miss lots...those misses SEE you regardless of how well you are hidden...and instantly become educated and spread the alarm. Game mostly over.
Skip
Skip I don't believe a day in day out average of 70% is realistic for the majority of gunners, some people are more gifted than others. Hitting more than missing should be the goal and that takes practice. Practice means using a shotgun outside the season shooting skeet, trap and sporting clays. Don't make the opening day of crow season the first day of wingshooting since last year.
Great tips all from my fellow Crow Busters, but I think Elkhunter said it best in the fewest possible words.
One point I would like to emphazie, acquiring land access in areas where crows transit, "loaf around" and/or feed is critical for success in this sport.
To maximize success on station, a modern autoloading shotgun is advantagous. We like the Browning Maxus.
Thanks gang! I guess I'll never be a real crowbuster LOL coz so far (fourth year) I have not built a blind. We have a lotta red cedars in our area, and I usually just snap off enough branches to allow me to back into the tree and have cover overhead and on three sides. Or back into a pin oak tree (they hold their leaves all winter). Always have head to toe camo on, and the guns are camo'ed. I've even learned to reload with very little motion... haven't had a problem bouncing birds.
To maximize success on station, a modern autoloading shotgun is advantagous. We like the Browning Maxus.
Regards,
However if you want to maximize style and class there is no substitute for the use of an American classic double.
Pretty Gun = less birds.
Ugly Gun = more birds.
Hmmm... maybe it's just me but I am going out with the ugly stick.
So far, killing game with this classic double has meant more to me, very similar to the feeling that I get when hunting with my bow. I tell people all the time, I would rather kill a doe with my bow than get a buck with my rifle. I honestly feel that way.
Look at this way...If I shoot less birds with the double barrel today, that means there will be more crows to hunt tomorrow.......right?
I guess what I'm trying to say is, I don't crow hunt to reduce their numbers, I crow hunt because it's enjoyable.
Kev
Just jerking y'all chain. I honestly don't know ANYONE that hunts crows for a reason other the pure enjoyment. Whether that be with classic weapons or the latest of the goodies, it's all for fun.
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"If money can fix it, it ain't broke" The great theologian and my crow hunting partner AW.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, I don't crow hunt to reduce their numbers, I crow hunt because it's enjoyable.
Kev
Just jerking y'all chain. I honestly don't know ANYONE that hunts crows for a reason other the pure enjoyment. Whether that be with classic weapons or the latest of the goodies, it's all for fun.
I bet you'll get some nice emails from our PETA friends for saying this!
Crow hunting is a blood sport pure and simple. Nobody has to make apologies or feel bad, it is regulated and if we were a threat to crow populations the regs would change. Eating what you kill is insufficient justification for hunting, nobody has to hunt anymore food is widely available. Trappers don't consume their kill, neither do varmint hunters, yotes, pigeons, gophers etc. Crows are winged varmints. Nothing goes to waste because nature is efficient, scavengers, bugs and bacteria need to eat too. Crow hunting is fun, it provides a service to farmers and helps song and game bird populations. Did I say it was fun
I guess what I'm trying to say is, I don't crow hunt to reduce their numbers, I crow hunt because it's enjoyable.
Kev
Just jerking y'all chain. I honestly don't know ANYONE that hunts crows for a reason other the pure enjoyment. Whether that be with classic weapons or the latest of the goodies, it's all for fun.
Crow hunting is a blood sport pure and simple. Nobody has to make apologies or feel bad, it is regulated and if we were a threat to crow populations the regs would change. Eating what you kill is insufficient justification for hunting, nobody has to hunt anymore food is widely available. Trappers don't consume their kill, neither do varmint hunters, yotes, pigeons, gophers etc. Crows are winged varmints. Nothing goes to waste because nature is efficient, scavengers, bugs and bacteria need to eat too. Crow hunting is fun, it provides a service to farmers and helps song and game bird populations. Did I say it was fun
Completely agree, I was just kidding... Any animal I hunt, I do first and foremost for the enjoyment, its just a huge bonus that most of it tastes really good. If I only did it for the food, I probably wouldn't hunt near as much, since I spend loads of time in the woods and don't kill near as much as I should for the time spent.
I totally 100% agree with Skip. Effective shooting is the key. My hunting partner and I have been out more and are shooting better than before...and our numbers have gone up dramatically.
Obviously hiding well is a somewhat close 2nd and then calling. If you shoot a bunch and don't drop many....game is usually over.
Thanks gang! I guess I'll never be a real crowbuster LOL coz so far (fourth year) I have not built a blind. We have a lotta red cedars in our area, and I usually just snap off enough branches to allow me to back into the tree and have cover overhead and on three sides. Or back into a pin oak tree (they hold their leaves all winter). Always have head to toe camo on, and the guns are camo'ed. I've even learned to reload with very little motion... haven't had a problem bouncing birds.
Keep em coming. Thank you.
Scout just a word of advice here. When using naturel cover such as the cedars you have mentioned, be sure not to have a heavy canopy of foliage above. This will obstruct overhead view or cirlcling crows making for a frustrating shoot. Crows if even slightly educated to hunters and calling will use this to their advantage when checking out your ambush. Further, many guy's shoot a lot of crows without building a major blind.
Ted
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